Encrencas do Pernalonga

Wabbit Twouble (1941)

**** (out of 4)

Masterpiece animated short has Elmer Fudd going to Jellostone National Park so that he can get some west and welaxation but instead he finds himself camping in the back yard of Bugs Bunny who decides to torment him. While neither character are in their traditional classic look that really means nothing as this short delivers some of the biggest laughs of the series. There were countless scenes so funny that I had tears running down my face because on one hand Fudd is the perfect goof ball to see tormented but on the other hand you can't help but love him for how dumb he is. The scene where Bugs makes him think it's night and then day is classic as is the scene where Bugs pretends to be a grizzly bear before the real one shows up. The final sequence is also rather hilarious as Fudd finally suffers his breakdown.

Bugs Bunny is one of my favorite Looney Tunes characters, and this short is one of my favorites directed by Bob Clampett. In this cartoon, Elmer Fudd goes on vacation to Jellostone National Park for relaxation, but Bugs Bunny plays pranks on him.

My favorite scene is when, after Elmer hammers up Bugs' hole, Bugs opens the board like a door and mimics Elmer: "That'll hold all wight." He even chuckled like him. I also love the "play dead" scene, which involves a huge black bear-not a grizzly bear, but a black bear! The facial expressions Elmer uses during the bear attack (either one) are priceless.

Both the fat Elmer and the Elmer we came to know and love were great! Here director Bob Clampett uses the fat Elmer wisely and puts him in a series of great gags that leave you laughing from start to finish. This was truly a great start for the fat Elmer. Sad is that he never really lasted that long.

The sign greeting campers says, "Welcome to Jellostone National Park: A Restful Retreat." Elmer Fudd finds this to be a dirty lie when Bugs Bunny torments him for the fun of it. Bugs will trick Elmer into thinking day is night, mid-air is safe ground, and his rabbity self is a grizzly bear before Elmer commits an act he'll immediately regret.

In deference to Mr. Fudd, the opening credits are spelled out the way he would say them: Wobert Cwampett, Sid Sutherwand, Cawl W. Stawwing and so forth. The canyon setting is depicted with a realistic illusion of depth that is unusual for Warner Brothers cartoons. And Elmer makes one of his rare early appearances as a fat man - even though he was relatively slim before *and* after this brief period.

The gang at Termite Terrace were still feeling out Bugs in these early days, and they end up breaking a rule that they established for him only later: Bugs Bunny is a passive figure until sorely provoked. Elmer certainly doesn't provoke Bugs in this cartoon. He merely shows up.

Few complain about Bugs's obnoxious behavior. The film is wildly funny and makes the favorite list of many cartoon fans, including Leonard Maltin. Besides, Elmer's entire personality practically invites people to harass him.

This cartoon is available in the "Looney Tunes Golden Collection, Volume One," Disc 1.

Bob Clampett's first Bugs Bunny cartoon seems more like the kind of film that Tex Avery would have made if he stayed with the studio (not surprising, since Clampett inherited Tex's crew). Unwarranted troublemaker, casual asides to the audience, and a likable foil.

Clampett's style starts to break from Avery's and take its own in the facial expressions. Elmer's takes during the bear attack (either one) are priceless. And the goofy-scary design of the actual bear is a great blend...perfect for a cartoon.

This is also the first appearance of the "fat Elmer," a redesign Clampett wanted to use because he felt the character looked funnier...and so Elmer could more resemble his voice actor, Arthur Q. Bryan. To a point he does look funnier, but one can already see the future physical limitations it will set on the character (see "The Wacky Wabbit" for a good example of that).

All in all, a silly first Bugs cartoon for Clampett. Definitely one to see!